Android Tips, Tricks, and Apps from Google

There may be no shortage of tips and tricks for using Android from users the world over, but it's less common to hear an assortment of suggestions from Google itself.

Sure enough, though, earlier this week Google's senior vice president of product management Jonathan Rosenberg published a lengthy list of such hints, ideas and favorite apps on the official Google blog.

Many of the suggestions are specific to Android 2.3, or Gingerbread, which is currently available only on the Nexus S smartphone. Nevertheless, the Nexus One is expected to receive an over-the-air upgrade to Android 2.3 "in the coming weeks," while other devices--including the HTC Desire HD--are expected to follow not long afterward.

So what are Google's own best ideas for using Android? Here's a small sampling.

Tips

Scrolling: When you're in a scrollable list such as the Gmail inbox, an orange hue at the end of the list is a signal that you can't scroll any more.

Downloads: Items downloaded from the browser get collected in a downloads manager that's accessible in the apps drawer.

Wi-Fi: To turn your phone into a Wi-Fi hotspot, go to "Settings" and then "Wireless & Networks" followed by "Tethering & Portable Hotspot." Of course, "you may have to pay extra for this feature," Rosenberg notes.

On the Keyboard

Capitalization shortcut: With Gingerbread, Shift+Key can be used to capitalize a letter instead of going to a separate all-caps keyboard.

Quick replace: On any previously typed word, users can tap on a suggestion to automatically replace it with the suggested word.

Applications

What are Google favorite Android apps? Included on Rosenberg's list are:

Angry Birds

Astro

Flash -- "Runs even better on Gingerbread," Rosenberg notes.

Fruit Ninja

FXCamera

Instant Heart Rate

Phoneanlyzr

RemoteDroid

Shazam

SoundHound

Tango

That’s a good list, but I bet we can all think of apps we’d love but that don’t yet exist. Good thing there’s also App Inventor for Android for building your own apps. Follow Katherine Noyes on Twitter: @Noyesk.

For comprehensive coverage of the Android ecosystem, visit Greenbot.com.